Owen Farrell hails ‘attitude of champions’ in win over New Zealand

Owen Farrell (top) was delighted with England’s attitude as they put world champions New Zealand to the sword (Picture: PA)

The fly-half kicked 17 points as England powered their way to a record win over the world champions, to end a 20-game unbeaten run.The triumph followed frustrating defeats to Australia and South Africa, and Farrell said: ‘We felt like the performances were there but we didn’t quite get the results we wanted. We felt like it was nearly there.‘I know on the outside people didn’t think that but the stuff that has been said on the outside has only made us tighter as a group.‘There is a lot of fight in this team, there is a champions’ attitude and it showed out there. If we stick to our processes and do what we do well, we will challenge any team.’Farrell, recalled for injured playmaker Toby Flood, kicked three penalties and a drop goal to open up a 15-0 lead before the All Blacks hit back with two tries in three minutes, from Julian Savea and Kieran Read.But the young English side summoned a perfect reaction with a three-try blitz courtesy of Brad Barritt, Chris Ashton and Manu Tuilagi.Stuart Lancaster, who took over as England coach a year ago, said: ‘It’s the highest point, isn’t it?‘To put that type of performance under that sort of pressure after the scrutiny of the last two weeks, is fantastic. It was less than 11 months ago we changed the direction of travel for England rugby, to build a team for the future but also wanting to win in the here and now.‘Sometimes it takes a win to show that and the most pleasing thing is it has given a clear view of the direction we are going.’